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Battle of Lexington and concord
First military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Fought in Middlesex Country, Massachusetts between the 13 american colonies and British authorities. This battle is important because it was the true start of the American Revolution against Great Britain. -
Northwest Ordinance
Passed by Congress. Provided rules for governing the northwest territory. Divided into several states of Middle West. Banned slavery in the territory, making it the first major act of Congress to abolish slavery from new land. Out of the three acts this is the most important one because: "it laid the basis for the government of the Northwest Territory and for the admission of its constituent parts as states into the union -
Alien Seditions Act
Federalist Congress and President Adams passed these four laws in 1798. the laws involved new powers to transport immigrants and making it hard for them to vote. sought to restrict the public activities of political radicals who sympathized with the French Revolution and criticized John Adam's Federalist policies. -
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
Political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. It argued that the states had the right and the duty to declare as unconstitutional those acts of Congress -
Louisiana Purchase
Was a massive western region of North America, consisting of 828,000 square miles, sold by France to US. Was important because it gave the U.S. control of the Mississippi River and the port city of New Orleans, both of which were used by farmers to ship their crops and get paid -
Marbury.v.Madision
Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review. The power of the federal courts to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional. Marbury v. Madison is arguably the most important case in supreme court history, was the first U.S. Supreme Court case to apply the principle of "judicial review"- the power of federal courts to void acts of Congress in conflict wit -
Missouri Compromise
A settlement of a dispute between slave and free states, contained in several laws passed during 1820 and 1821. Northern legislators had tried to prohibit slavery in Missouri, which was then applying for statehood. An effort by Congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of Missouri late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery would be permitted. At the time, the United States contained twenty-two states, evenly divided between slave and free. -
Monroe Doctrine
settlement of a dispute between slave and free states, contained in several laws passed during 1820 and 1821. Northern legislators had tried to prohibit slavery in Missouri, which was then applying for statehood. An effort by Congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of Missouri late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery would be permitted. At the time, the United States contained twenty-two states, evenly divided between slave and free.